Guildsman up in time in Franklin-Simpson Stakes

Guildsman was along at just the right time to win the Grade 3, $343,875 Franklin-Simpson Stakes as the six-day Runhappy meet came to a close Wednesday at turf-only Kentucky Downs in south-central Kentucky.

With Tyler Gaffalione riding for trainer Brendan Walsh, Guildsman collared front-running Island Commish in the final 70 yards to win the 6 1/2-furlong race by a neck, with a late-rallying Souper Dormy finishing just another neck back in third.

Guildsman, a French-bred gelding, was dispatched at 9-1 and led a parade of longshots under the wire. He paid $21.80 after finishing in 1:15.87 over a firm course.

Four scratches from an oversubscribed lineup – most notably Kimari, who had raced instead Tuesday – still left a full gate of 12 3-year-olds in the ninth-race feature.

Guildsman, owned by Qatar Racing, had won once in four tries since coming into Walsh’s care following six overseas starts. That lone prior U.S. win had come in the ungraded Tom Ridge last month going six furlongs over the Presque Isle Downs synthetic.

“The 6 1/2 [furlongs] today was right in his wheelhouse,” Walsh said. “I’m not actually surprised. He’s a really talented horse.”

“He kept coming and really proved his stuff today,” Gaffalione said.

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Guildsman was ineligible for the sizable bonuses available to Kentucky-breds, which accounts for the actual purse payout being less than the $500,000 maximum. He earned $144,150.

Island Commish was 21-1, Souper Dormy was 47-1, and fourth-place finisher Flap Jack was 37-1 as the top three favorites – Turned Aside, Maven, and Competitive Saint – all fared poorly. The result was massive exotic payoffs: the $2 exacta (8-5) paid $364, the $1 trifecta (8-5-12) returned $3,956.30, and the 10-cent superfecta (8-5-12-4) was worth $6,919.15.

A busy closing-day card also included three $100,000 designated preps (races 6-8) toward the Claiming Crown series in December at Gulfstream Park. In those earlier races:

* Jakarta ($2.80), confidently ridden by Jose Ortiz, dominated seven other filly-mare sprinters from the outset when gliding home a two-length winner as the heavy favorite in a 6 1/2-furlong prep toward the Claiming Crown Distaff Dash. Mike Maker, the all-time leading trainer in both Kentucky Downs and Claiming Crown history, trains the 5-year-old Pennsylvania-bred mare for the Three Diamonds Farm of Kirk Wycoff.

* Don’task Don’ttell ($12) led throughout in a mile and 70-yard prep toward the Claiming Crown Emerald when registering her sixth straight victory in a mild upset over the uncoupled Maker duo of Apreciado and Muggsmatic, the respective 2-3 finishers. Julien Leparoux rode the winner, part of a stable entry owned and trained by Steve Asmussen.

* Sugar Fix ($5.20) got a perfect stalking trip under Gaffalione when coming through as the favorite in a mile and 70-yard prep toward the Claiming Crown Tiara. Saffie Joseph Jr. claimed the winner for $40,000 two starts back at Saratoga.

Gaffalione the top rider

Gaffalione clinched his first Kentucky Downs riding title when booting home 11 winners during a meet that began Sept. 7. Gaffalione, 26, has been the leading jockey at a number of major venues, including Gulfstream Park, Churchill Downs, and Keeneland.

Maker, with eight winners, topped the trainer standings for yet another season, while Three Diamonds was the leading owner with four wins.

* Kentucky Downs handle during the meet was a total of $59.8 million, crushing the all-time track record of $41.2 million.

No spectators were allowed throughout the meet because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with the vast majority of wagering being made through off-track sources.

* An erroneous order of finish was posted following the third race Wednesday, although it was soon changed to reflect the correct finish prior to the results being declared official. The initial version had Tiz Splendid News defeating Sir Roberto in a tight photo, but upon further review (and the tote board going blank), the top two were switched, with the proper order of 1-8-5-2 being posted. Purse and mutuel payoffs were unaffected.